Low carbon procurement: An emerging agenda

The importance of climate change is shaping public policy internationally at several levels with much of the effort aimed at reducing the amount of carbon emissions released to the atmosphere through anthropogenic activity. Public procurement is a key financial mechanism available to governments to drive policy change and because of its scale can be also one of the most effective. During the past decade Low Carbon Procurement (LCP) has emerged as focal policy agenda in the UK and other countries. However, the implementation of LCP requires improved definition by governments and a greater understanding of Carbon Management tools and concepts such as Lifecycle Analysis on the part of procurement chiefs. Focusing on public procurement in the UK within the context of international policy development, this paper develops a working definition and model for LCP to guide future discussions on policy and practice. The paper presents an agenda of expected challenges for the implementation of LCP, including problems associated with weighing trade-offs between carbon and wider environmental or sustainability objectives, use of carbon tools and methodologies. The paper concludes by identifying key directions for further LCP research.

► Defines public procurement as a key mechanism in the drive to reduce carbon emissions.
► Describes Low Carbon Procurement (LCP) as a focal policy agenda in the UK and other countries.
► Focuses on public procurement in the UK within the context of international policy development.
► Develops a working definition and model for LCP to guide policy and practice.
► Presents the challenges for LCP including problems associated wider sustainability trade-offs.